One week after the California Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers teamed up with us on an Instagram post, the professional organization has sent a letter to Kaiser CEO Greg Adams calling on Kaiser to “accept the union’s reasonable contract proposals to ensure delivery of timely and appropriate behavioral health services to Kaiser enrollees.”
Between NASW and the leaders of the State Senate and Assembly — along with many of their fellow legislators — a growing number of influential stakeholders are telling Kaiser it needs to settle this contract on our terms now.
More news coverage
The work being done to collect information about what’s happening inside Kaser during the strike is revealing serious violations. Capital & Main published a strong story today based on our most recent complaint about Kaiser violating state law and its own plan for avoiding mass appointment cancellations.
When unionized Kaiser Permanente mental health care workers in Northern California went on strike in 2022, the industry giant quickly moved to reassure its patients. They would receive the same level of care they’d always had, Kaiser officials said.
It didn’t happen. According to a document later filed by the state’s Department of Managed Health Care as part of a massive settlement and fine paid by Kaiser, more than 100,000 mental health care appointments were canceled by the company during the 10-week strike over working conditions and staffing. Cancelling the appointments was a direct violation of state law.
Two years later, it appears not much has changed. In a new complaint filed with state officials, the union representing more than 2,400 striking mental health care workers in Kaiser’s Southern California network says that Kaiser is again trying to get by with whatever staff remains and is employing tactics that will lead to huge numbers of missed or canceled appointments.
Demonstrating that Kaiser is violating state law during our strike helps generate even more support from key stakeholders and put more pressure on Kaiser to return to the bargaining table and settle on our terms.
Hardship funds
Hardship fund applications are due by Friday at 11:59 p.m. for disbursement on the following Friday. You can find the official rules for disbursement here and the application form here.
Save the date
We’re planning a holiday gift distribution day on Tuesday, December 10. More details to come.
Picket line photos
See the gallery of photos below, and see more on NUHW’s social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.
